Chapter 5: The Damsel is Distressed
There was an unusual buzz among the Sunday church congregation the next morning as Nathan took his place at the back of the church near the door. There was an awful lot of tittering and whispering going on, especially near the front row where Florence and Molly was sitting. Involuntarily, Nathan rolled his eyes before locking them firmly on the pulpit that Pastor Joseph and Lee had built together. A small sigh escaped him as the whispers continued. Somehow, he just couldn't escape gossip these days.
Molly leaned on closer, with eager anticipation. "You saw them together? On the same horse?" Florence nodded vigorously. "Yes!" she whispered loudly. "And sitting quite close to each other if you ask me." Molly gasped and threw a glance back at Nathan, before turning back to Florence excitedly. "Oh, my goodness" she exclaimed. "Who is she? What's she like? Did you find out her name?" Florence shook her head disappointedly. "I didn't get the chance to introduce myself before she and Constable Grant were walking into the judge's office, together." "Together?" Molly gasped. "Into the Judge's office? You don't say!" Florence nodded vigorously. "Indeed, I do" she asserted. She dropped her voice mysteriously. "She's a very handsome young woman and has beautiful, velvety brown hair! And her eyes! Molly, I have never seen blue eyes quite like hers before. I imagine the Constable is quite taken with her. She is a striking beauty!" Molly only had time to let out a final gasp before Pastor Joseph stepped to the front of the room. "Thank you all for joining me here today" he said with a cheerful smile. "Let us stand in prayer…" Molly leaned closer to Florence. "Meet me later for lunch at the café. I want to hear everything."
By the time Allie rejoined her uncle after the Sunday service was over, and she had talked briefly with some of her friends, the buzz seemed to have reached her too. "So, Uncle Nathan" she began with a mischievous smirk. "I hear you had a busy day yesterday…" Nathan feigned indifference, though he knew exactly where this was going. "Not any busier than any other day" he said, pretending to look confused. As they started to walk home however, Allie couldn't contain her curiosity, and her face lit up. "Did you meet someone Uncle Nathan?' she asked finally, a naughty glint in her eye. Nathan smiled but couldn't help feeling annoyed. Why did everyone in town have to stick their noses into everyone else's business. Allie had probably heard something from one of the little congregation. He sighed, slightly irritated. "I… may have had to help one of the new homesteaders out" he admitted. Allie's eyes sparkled. "Who is she?" she asked excitedly. "Anna said she saw the two of you riding into town together." Nathan stopped in his tracks. "Allie…" he warned her seriously. "It' not right to gossip, even with your friends. That's how rumors and lies get spread about people. Do you understand?" Allie nodded, disappointed. "Yes sir" she said meekly. She quickly perked up again however as they continued down the dirt road towards their rowhouse. "What's her name Uncle Nathan?" she asked, this time out of pure curiosity. Nathan frowned faintly at the memory of his rather frustrating experience from the day before. "Her name is Miss Lemont" he said. "She's… new here in Hope Valley." "Is she nice?" Allie asked as she trotted up the front steps of the house. Nathan shook his head with a doubtful smile as he opened the door. "That's not exactly the word I would use" he muttered, before quickly changing the subject. "What do you say we pack ourselves a few jelly sandwiches and go fishing before I have to do my rounds again?" he suggested. "Judge Avery was riding by the pond earlier today and he said the fish looked to be biting, so…" Allie smiled eagerly. "Yes please!" she cried in delight. "Robert gave me a new lore yesterday. I can't wait to try it out!"
The lighted stove cast a warm glow over the back room of the café as Clara, Fiona, and Faith were all visiting together and sharing tea after church. "I was so angry that the town council decided to let Mr. Walden open his banking and loan enterprise" Clara fumed. "Jesse and I tried to talk them out of it, but they wouldn't listen. They said there wasn't enough evidence to prevent him from moving forward." Fiona shrugged with disappointment. "I guess no more fun nights at the saloon" she mourned. "And just when Mike and I were about to organize a weekly get-together for folks in town. Without the saloon, there's really no place to go, especially in the wintertime. Such rotten luck!" Faith sighed. "That would have been nice Fiona" she admitted. "Unfortunately, the café hardly qualifies to hold that many people, especially with all the new folks in town." Fiona's face lighted up. "Speaking of new folks in town!" she breathed excitedly, "A little bird told me that Nathan rode into town yesterday, accompanied by a woman. He certainly doesn't seem like the romantic type, so I was very curious to hear it." Clara took a sip of her tea thoughtfully before giving her input. "I never really talked to Nathan before Jesse went missing on the mountain" she said, clearly feeling rather indifferent to the subject of the Mountie. "Jesse and Nathan were never really close. I think Jesse has always been a little apprehensive ever since he punched Nathan in the face back when Nathan first arrived here. Do you remember?" Fiona laughed. "I remember how upset you were" she teased. "That was quite a night!" she sighed thoughtfully. "I know a lot of the guys in town, but I never really got to know Nathan very well. I guess it's because he never spent time the saloon at night like the rest of us." Clara nodded in agreement. "Yes, he always seemed very rigid and reserved to me." Faith frowned faintly at Clara's remark and stared thoughtfully into the fire. "That's not what he's like at all" she murmured, not realizing that she said it out loud. Clara and Fiona eyed her curiously. "Oh?" Clara questioned, a little confused. "Have you and Nathan been spending time together?" Fiona's face lit up. "Come to think of it, I did see you two sitting outside the infirmary together" she said excitedly. "He had injured his hand or something? It's a little fuzzy, but I remember seeing you both." Faith smiled, blushing slightly. "We've gotten to know each other a little better, as friends" she quickly pointed out. "But he's so different than I thought he was." Clara raised her eyebrows. "He always seemed very gruff and serious to me" she said doubtfully. Faith shook her head. "No…" she said softly. "He's actually quite kind and gentle. He may not say much, but when he does, it comes from the heart." She stared thoughtfully into the fire again. "He's a very attentive listener, and his advice is very wise. I've only known one other man like that." Fiona smiled sensitively. "You mean Carson?" she asked softly. Faith smiled sheepishly. "No…" she said. "An old friend."
A heavy downpour sent Allie and Nathan scurrying home from their fishing adventure. As Bill had predicted, the fish were indeed biting, and between the perfection of the weather and Allie's new lore, Nathan and Allie caught enough fish between them to supply them with dinner. Allie smiled proudly as they both stood at the kitchen table scaling the fish together, after changing into dry clothes. "Can I cook dinner for us tonight Uncle Nathan?" she begged. "Please?" Nathan smiled. "Are you sure you want to?" he asked quizzically. "Fish isn't the easiest thing to make you know." Allie waved her hand carelessly. "I've seen you do it hundreds of times" she said confidently. "I could probably do it in my sleep." Nathan laughed. "Okay then" he said, brushing the last few scales from the fish in his hands. "The kitchen is yours. Will you be alright on your own while I do my rounds?" "Yes sir" she reassured him, pulling a few items from the pantry. "Dinner will be ready to eat when you get back." She paused momentarily, warily eying him as he donned on the red serge. Finally, she spoke up cautiously. "Do you think Miss Lemont is okay?" she asked. "You know, after those claim jumpers tried to… jump her?" Nathan had secretly been wondering the same thing all day, despite his annoyance with Miss Lemont. "I'm not sure" he said absently. "I hope so."
Even before Allie had mentioned Danielle, Nathan had already resolved in his mind to ride past her place during his rounds, just to make sure she was alright. Knowing that she lived alone and had no family or friends in town, he had decided to end his route each day at that quiet farm road, on which her little house was situated. That way, she would be sure to have someone looking after her and even protecting her should the need arise again. As he passed by her little house that day, he strained his eyes to see any glimpse of life that he could, just to be sure that she was safe. To his complete embarrassment and annoyance, she suddenly opened the front door, a basket for gathering eggs on the crook of her arm. She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing, her mouth falling open. Nathan felt his face turning red with shame, but he still touched his hat politely before turning down the dirt road, back in the direction of Hope Valley. Why had she decided to come to the door right at the moment he happened to be riding by? Now she probably knew that he was there to make sure of her safety and would be angry with him due to her independent nature. With heavy sighed, he urged Newton a little faster, in the hopes of forgetting the awkward experience.
Monday was muggy and hot. Tuesday was even hotter. By the time, the sun was high in the sky on Wednesday, Nathan could feel the sweat running down his face as he made his way down the farm road and past Danielle's homestead. It had been a particularly exhausting day, filled with property line disputes, incident reports, and even a few taunts from Julius Spurlock, whom Nathan had passed on the road. With a tired sigh, Nathan wearily lifted his head to glance at Danielle's place before heading home. To his surprise, she was standing near her front gate waiting for him, a friendly smile on her face. "Hello Constable" she greeted him. Nathan pulled Newton to a halt and touched his hat, still slightly bewildered. "Good afternoon" he answered with a pleasant smile. She smiled back, though a little shyly. "I hope I'm not disturbing you in the middle of your rounds" she ventured to say, folding her hands behind her back. Nathan shook his head. "No, not at all" he assured her. "I'm nearly finished anyways. Is there something I can help you with Miss Lemont?" Danielle quickly shook her head. "No, thank you, I'm alright" she said. "But you look as though you've had a long day. If you are going to be riding all the way out here every day, you might as well stop for a little while. Can I get you something cold to drink?" Nathan, who was both hot and tired from a day spent under the beating sun, smiled ruefully. "I'm not going to lie, that does sound pretty nice" he admitted. Danielle nodded, smiling and held the open the gate for him. "It's much cooler on the front porch" she said. " If you want to tie up your horse at the fence…" Nathan dismounted and taking off his hat, ran a hand through his damp hair. "Thank you" he said gratefully, following her through the front gate.
Danielle brought out a cold pitcher of lemonade once Nathan was comfortable situated on the front step and poured him a brimming glass of it. "I made it this morning" she said. "Florence came by with a welcome basket for me yesterday. She put all kinds of things in it, including the lemons." Nathan took the glass gratefully from her slender hand. "Thank you" he murmured appreciatively. "It's not everyday I get a treat like this." As he drank, Danielle poured herself a glass and sat down beside him on the stoop. "The summers are always so hot here" she remarked, looking out over the dazzling lake that flanked her piece of land. "And yet, we're so far north… It's kind of ironic, isn't it?" Nathan nodded. "I've wondered about that myself" he chuckled. "Especially on a day as hot as this one. The sun gets awfully hot when you're way up on a horse's back." They both laughed, and then were silent for a moment. After a brief pause, Nathan looked up curiously. "So… What brought you to Hope Valley Miss Lemont?" Danielle looked out over the grassy fields thoughtfully for a moment. "It's funny" she said, with a bemused little laugh. "I don't really know. I suppose I just felt drawn to it. The name itself seemed to speak to me… I mean, how could you go wrong with a place that offers hope?" Nathan nodded. "You're right" he murmured. "I guess I never thought of it that way." She smiled and eyed him with quiet perception. "And you?" she asked softly. "What brought you here Constable?" The question startled Nathan slightly, especially since it was a question that he had been attempting to answer for himself since Elizabeth had told him that she was not in love with him. When faced with it in actuality however, Nathan's mind went completely blank, and he didn't know what to say. "I guess I don't really know either anymore" he murmured at last, with a sad smile. Danielle nodded understandingly. "I see" she said quietly. "It can be hard to see the point of anything somethings…" Nathan nodded in agreement. "Yes" he said. "I know what you mean. What do you plan to do now that you've come to Hope Valley Miss Lemont?" Danielle smiled fondly to herself at the thought and laid down her glass. "I want to run my own homestead" she said. "Maybe I'll even have my own farm someday. This is a beautiful piece of land and I want to make it my own. Plant my own crops, raise my own livestock, keep my own house. I know that must sound… silly, but it's something I've always wanted to do, but never could until now." Nathan shook his head. "No, that actually sounds really nice" he said with a warm smile. "You want to put down roots somewhere. What could be wrong with that?" She nodded pleasantly and shrugged. "Anyway, it'll be nice to finally settle down in a place I can call home" she agreed. "Speaking of home" she added, after looking at the position of the sun, "I should probably let you get back to yours." Nathan suddenly realized what time it was and quickly laid down his empty glass. "Right" he said, straightening up. "I should probably be on my way. Thank you for letting me stop Miss Lemont." She shook her head with a smile. "You are welcome anytime Constable" she said. "It's a long trip for you to come all the way out here every day from town."
They were both silent as they walked to the front gate. Wordlessly, Nathan untied Newton from the fence and guided him back to the dirt road. "Constable…" Danielle stopped him suddenly as he was about to mount. "I hope you know that I am truly grateful to you… for looking out for me. It's been so long since anyone's done that. I hope you'll forgive my ingratitude last time we spoke." Nathan smiled. "It's already forgotten" he said with a friendly grin. Then he added more seriously, "I understand it can be… difficult to accept help sometimes." Danielle nodded in agreement. "Yes" she murmured softly. "Especially when you're on your own." Nathan felt her sentiments tug at his heart, but he laid aside his feelings and smiled brightly. "I think I own you an apology too" he said, with a playful grin. "Oh?" Danielle crossing her arms, both amused and intrigued. "And why is that?" Nathan laughed. "I confess, I was pretty cross with you while we were riding into town. So much for being neighborly…" Danielle couldn't keep herself from giggling. "I guess we're even then" she concluded. Nathan nodded, smiling brightly. "I can live with that" he said. "Well… until next time Miss Lemont." Danielle smiled, reddening with embarrassment. "You don't have to keep calling me that" she reassured him. "Danielle then?" Nathan asked. Danielle shook her head. "Just Dani" she corrected him. "It's much easier." Nathan nodded, still smiling. "Dani" he repeated to himself. "Well Dani… Thank you for your hospitality. And welcome to Hope Valley." A knowing smile passed between them and for a fleeting moment their eyes locked before they both caught their breath and looked away. "Thank you, Constable" Danielle replied quickly, a little flustered from meeting his gaze. Nathan, who had also been caught off guard, promptly mounted Newton. He straightened up in the saddle and quickly regained his composure. "I think it's high time I told you…" he said, somewhat sheepishly. "You can just call me Nathan." Danielle smiled quietly and nodded. "Good night then… Nathan" she said, testing it out for herself. Nathan grinned as he turned Newton back towards town. "Good night Dani" he said, before galloping away in the direction of the setting sun.